The other day, I was leaving my residence hall via the front door. There stood yet another Miami University girl wearing that same curl of the lip and tilt of the hip that said, "God, I'm sooo hot!" She was talking on the phone in a pitch and with an inflection that actually made my ears bleed just a little. I suspected she may have been locked out because of the circumstances. Anyways, I, being the complete anachronism and gentleman that I am, proceeded to keep the door open for this rain-soaked lass. Yet, she stood there for another five seconds while talking, did not acknowledge me with eye contact or by removing that permanent sneer, yet silently let me know she needed in. She proceeded to pick up her cup at an ever-glacial pace, while slowly inching towards the door and myself.
Then, I realized … why am I holding the door for this ungrateful girl? So, I let the heavy door go with a quick flick of my fingers and a grin, while she attempted to balance her phone, drink and bag while sliding her hand in front of the door within a manner of seconds.
"What an a**hole!" she dutifully informed me. I couldn't have agreed more.
It wasn't my job to wait on her, contrary to her belief in a nonexistent caste system. It was no pleasure for me to stand there wasting my time, while she clearly conveyed her time was much more valuable. She was sufficiently gross-looking, which is beside the point, since I like boys. So, what would be the point of my gracious gesture? I cannot comprehend why, other than to be kind, she thought I was doing this for her. Then, I also do not understand why she was so perplexed by my response to her uncouth behavior.
Sure, I can be a wildly misanthropic curmudgeon, but she should've realized I was going out of my way to be selfless. Yet, she took advantage of that and thus ruined her opportunity for aid and both our opportunities for a simple smile and appreciation for stranger love. Therefore, I must come to the conclusion that she, like so many other people, is a complete narcissist, and she saw me as an empty tool to make her life a bit easier. To her, why wouldn't I want the pleasure of holding the door open? Obviously, she was much more important than me. I'm sure one day, the work she will contribute to either helping amass further billions for any number of monopolies or to maintain her slice of the cul-de-sac will be far better for humanity than anything I could ever aspire to do.
The point is that you should not expect the kindness of strangers. No one owes it to us in this Hobbes-ian world. Do not be frightened by the void of kindness in strangers. Yet, when somehow, an individual goes out of the way to do something nice for you, give the stranger the courtesy of a response. And better yet, maybe you shouldn't call him an a**hole.
